Improvement in apparatus for cooling and dispensing soda-water and other liquids



3Sheets-Sheet1. J. MATTHEWS.

Apparatus for Cooling and Dispensing Soda-Watr and other Liquids.

N0 l5l 895 PatentedJune9 ,1874.

3 Sheets' Sh eet 2- and other Liquids.

Patented June 9, i874.

N0.i5l,895..

. ash -s heet 1*MATTHEWS.

Apparatus for Cooling and Dispensing Soda-Water and other Liquids.

, Nq l51,895, Patentedjune 9,1874.

Kimvvo- ZYXZM UNI ED STATES ATENT FFIen.

JOHN MATTHEWS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS FOR COOLING AND DISPENSING SODA-WATER AND OTHERLIQUIDS.-

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 151,895, dated June 9,1874; application filed March 19,1874.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN MATTHEWS, of the eityvof New York, in thecounty of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Apparatus for Cooling and Dispensing Soda-Waterand other Beverages; and I dohereby declare the following to be full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use it,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part ofthis specification, in which- Figure 1 shows a perspective view of theapparatus when finished; Fig. 2, a vertical section, in perspective,intersecting the apex of the hexagonal pyramid through its greatestexternal periphery; Fig. 3, a vertical section of the lower part of theapparatus, showing coil on inclined floor of cooler, also showing theclamps which hold the coil of pipe in a regular spaced position; Fig. 4,plan view of coil and clamps; Fig. 5, section of inner bracket, bolt,and joint-rod attached to post of the outer case; Fig. 6, elevation ofclamp for holding cooling-coil in spaced position; Fig. 7, elevation ofone of the ribs for holding the several parts of the superstructuretogether; Fig. 8, perspective of one of the brackets with bolt attachedfor holding the joint-rods in position; Fig. 9, perspective view of oneof the brackets with bolt attached for holding joint-rods in position,and for assisting in supporting the inclined floor of the cooler.

Like parts are represented by the same letters in all the figures.

This invention consists, first, of a new ma terial for the outside shellof apparatus for cooling and dispensing sodawater and other liquids,'said material being formed of glass or ceramic ware, the objectbeing-to make such apparatus less liable to become'stained or. corroded,have less conducting power than the materials heretofore used, therebyeffecting a saving in ice, and also producing highly ornamental effects,as will be hereinafter explained; second, new and improved devices andmeans for fastening the parts together and, third, in an improvedconstruction of the the holes for the draft-arms and sirup-faucets,

were afterward drilled in the marble plates.

Great disadvantages and losses attend the use of this material and themethods of working it, some of which I may here state: In the firstplace the manufacturer is limited to the particular color of the naturalstone, unlesshe would apply artificial coloring by staining or japanning. These imitations have a meretricious efieet, and are not generallyapproved they are, moreover, not durable.

Although white marble is generally considered more beautiful if finishedwith a fine grain and not polished, such a surface cannot well beemployed, as, being rough, it greatly aids the lodgment of substanceswhich stain the marble. \Vhite marbles would be generally preferred tomarbles of natural colors, and are doubtless the most appropriate forthis purpose, but polish and purity of color are lost after a few weeksuse. Owing to the texture of colored marbles, they are not at allbeautiful unless polished. Marbles of some very desirable colors cannotbe obtainedas, for example, a marble of fine blue color, which producesa beautiful effect with. silver mount-- ings.

The frequent accidental fracture of the marbles in chiseling anddrilling the necessary holes for the screws and faucets causes greatlosses, and to cut the pieces from the slabs often necessitates a greatwaste of material, besides the great labor and expense attending thefashioning and polishing of the stone and drilling the holes.

I construct my improved apparatus of an impervious material, preferablyof glass or ceramic ware, molded to shape, and having the holes for thescrews and faucets formed in the plates in the process of molding. Topro duce a true surface on these plates where they are intended to beflat, I rub them upon a revolving rubbing-bed with sand and water. Thisproduces a true surface with a grain more or less coarse, but the finishupon the surface can be raised from a rough grain to a polished surface.

Some of the most exquisite effects are produced by leaving a moderatelyfine grain upon the surface. This unpolished surface forms a finecontrast with the polished silver mountin gs, and the effect is thoughtby'most persons to be much superior to that produced by a polishedsurface. Upon the moldings embossed or otherwise ornamented parts ofthese molded plates, this effect of grain upon the surface may beproduced by etchings, by acid, or by the sand-blast process. Slabs ortablets of fine white, blue, or green color, transparent or opaquemolded to form, and with the holes already formed for the screws andfaucets, are thus produced with great cheapness. An apparatus thusconstructed of glass or porcelain is impervious to the action of thesoda-water or sirups, is more durable, and preserves its original purityand beauty for a great length of time. The names of the sirups,medallion sculpture, and rich moldings, can be formed or molded withgreat facility and economy, and if etched on the surface by the meansdescribed are of great beauty.

Another part of my invention relates to the means by which these tabletsare fastened together and the joints covered. To secure the plates ortablets, I provide a bracket which is tapped so as to receive the screwswhich pass through the tablets, projecting through the joint, andattached to these brackets, is a bolt,

which may be screwed into the bracket or cast 7 upon it. In the lattercase it is flattened so as not to require a wide joint, nor fitting intothe edges of the tablets. The end of the bolt is provided with a head,over which the hollow bars fit and are thus secured.

Another improvement in my apparatus consists in the means by which thespire or upper part of the apparatus is sustained. This is accomplishedby angle-shaped ribs overhangin g so as to form a rest or seat for thespire, and they may at the same time serve at either or both ends toattach the exterior plates of the apparatus. By the use of these ribsthe base of the spire may be smaller than the main body of theapparatus, and yet be sustained upon the exterior or lower case of theapparatus,. thus avoiding the obstruction caused if internal columns areused, and permitting the introduction of the sirups and ice into theapparatus between the base of the spire and the exterior of the body ofthe apparatus, and also affording a convenient arrangement for theattachment and seat of the valves or arms.

Another improvement in this apparatus consists in the means by which thecoils of pipe serving for the coolers within the apparatus are sustainedin an advantageous manner, by which great efficiency is attained and thecost greatly decreased.

Heretofore soft block-tin pipe, closely coiled to form a dish upon whichthe ice was placed, was secured by soldering the coils together.

Although this may seem a simple and effective construction, it is reallyattended with great disadvantages, some of which I will here point out.In soldering these coils 'it frequently happens that the workman meltsthe casily fused pipe, so as to cause a partial or complete obstructionto the flow of water through the cooler. Such coils of pipe, oncesoldered, cannot readily be detached without risk of again melting them,so that such coils cannot be used for other purposes if it is sodesired. These pipes being closely coiled, melt off the slender tongueof ice which tends to insert itself between the coils when in use. In ashort time the impurities from the ice lodge themselves between thecoils, and soon. fill up the interstices between the coils and preventcontact between the ice and a large portion of the pipe. Theseimpurities are not good conductors, and consequently the eflicacy of thecooler is much impaired by reason of the lessened surface in contactwith the ice. I avoid the disadvantages above named, and greatlyeconomise the cost of such coolers by clamping the pipe forming the dishin such manner as to sustain the pipe securely, and at the same time toleave space bet-ween each coil of pipe. The clamps are made, preferably,of metal in two sections, having depressions at the requisite distancesto fit the pipe. Coolers constructed in this way allow the ice topenetrate between the coils, and will not permit the lodgment ofimpurities in the coil. Such coolers may again be uncoiled and the pipeused forother purposes.

My improved coolers are less costly than coolers as ordinarily coiled,and, although they do not require as much pipe to cover a given surface,are much more effective than a close coil on the same surface. I havefound that a cooler having the same ice-surface after a few monthsservice is twice as effective as a cooler of the usual form.

To prevent the lodgment of impurities beneath the coil, I construct themetallic lining of the apparatus with an inclined surface, and sustainthe coil upon ribs or thin blocks ar ranged to permit the descent of theimpurities to the waste-pipe. The portion of the apparatus whichsurmounts it is composed of a hollow transparent glass finial,representing in general form a jet of water. This finial I vary in formso as to represent a variety of jets, as may be desired.

A beautiful effect is produced by the introduction of a jet of waterwithin this finial, or even if so conducted as to issue from the top ofthe finial, and flow over its exterior. The passage of the water overthe irregularities of the glass, either on the interior or exterior,produces the effect of motion of the entire finial; so that the efi'ectof a large jet of water is produced with a comparatively small quantityof water, and without the splashing of water over neighboring objects.

I would say that the use of the common glass shades with regularsurfaces, and having an internal jet, has been known and used before;but such shades serve only as fenders to prevent the splashing of thewater-jet. The effect is much inferior to the improved finial having itssurface modeled to simulate a jet of water in general outline.

The following is a description of the apparatus as made and shown inthedrawings:

A A. are the side plates, made of the materials named above, with holesfor the screws to fasten the parts together. B B are similar plates,hinged to other plates 0, having a panel, D, so as to admit theintroduction of ice and other materials to the interior. The corners orjoinings of all these plates are covered by an gle-strips F. Thefinial-or spire E rests upon an ornamental base, as shown in Fig. 1. G Gare the clamps for holding in place the cooling-coil H, so as to supportit above the inclined floor I. The three kinds of brackets forsupporting and joining the several tiers of plates are shown in Figs. 7,8, and 9, being each provided with bolts a and flanges or webs l. Thelong bracket shown in Fig. 7 has the part J reaching the whole length ofplates B, and its upper portion supports the lower corners of the plates0. The pipe 1;, in the form of a coil, receives the liquid to be cooled,and delivers it to the draft-faucets by any required number of branchpipes O O. The metallic floor I is continued up the sides so as to forma complete lining, K, so as to form a water-tight box or tank to holdthe ice, cooling-coil, and sirup-tanks, so that there is no leak ordrop, and all parts requiring it are kept perfectly cool. The lower partof this tank should be provided with a trap, drip tube, or waste-pipe.

I have named glass, porcelain, and other ceramic wares, and mean toinclude under these the various kinds of glass, porcelain, and similarmaterials which are capable of being cast, pressed, or molded, and ofbeing finished in the manner above described.

To describe all these is unnecessary, as the materials for them, and themanner of producing them, are understood by those skilled in the arts ofworking them.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. The improved material herein described, for forming the exteriorportion of soda-water apparatus, coolers, and other similar articlesmade by molding glass or ceramic ware, and finishing to resemble marble'or other material, substantially as described.

2. The metallic bars, bolts, and inner brackets, so as to join the partstogether, substantially as set forth.

3. The ribs, as shown, for sustaining the upper portion of theapparatus.

4. The hollow transparent finial with modeled surface, asand for thepurpose specified.

5. The coiled-pipe cooler clamped, as set forth.

6. The rests or supports to support the cooler-coil, in combination withthe inclined floor, as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this18th day of March, 187%.

. j JOHN MATTHEWS. \Vitnesses S. A. CURTIS, W. D. SLOAN.

